Know Your Neighbourhood: Alexandra Palace & Wood Green | LFA2026

What makes people feel they belong somewhere?

In this episode of Talking Place, host Tanisha Raffiuddin visits Alexandra Palace and Wood Green as part of London Festival of Architecture's Know Your Neighbourhood series exploring the theme of belonging.

Joined by Louise Johnson from the Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust, the conversation explores why ‘Ally Pally’ continues to hold such a special place in the hearts of Londoners more than 150 years after it first opened its doors.

From its role as the birthplace of television to the memories created through concerts, family traditions and everyday walks in the park, Alexandra Palace reveals how places become part of our personal and collective identities.

The episode also uncovers the hidden creative energy of Wood Green, from its cultural quarter to its remarkable concentration of music recording studios, highlighting a side of the neighbourhood that many visitors may not be aware of.

Together, they discuss stewardship, heritage, creativity, public space and the responsibility of caring for places that generations of people call their own.

Topics covered:

• The story behind London's People's Palace
 • Why belonging is built through shared memories
 • Alexandra Palace's role in broadcasting history
 • Hidden creative communities in Wood Green
 • Heritage, sustainability and stewardship
 • The importance of neighbourhood identity in London

Plus, the rapid-fire round: best coffee, best view, the walk only locals know, and what you don't really understand about this neighbourhood until you've watched the sunset from the south terrace.

Know Your Neighbourhood is a five-episode series exploring five London Festival of Architecture 2026 neighbourhoods through the lens of this year's theme: Belonging.

If you've ever wondered why certain places stay with us long after we've left them, this episode and series are for you.

If you've ever wondered why certain places stay with us long after we've left them, this episode is for you.

Shownotes

• Welcome to Alexandra Palace & Wood Green 
• What belonging means in a London neighbourhood 
• The People's Palace and its civic mission 
•  Why people keep returning to Ally Pally 
•  Memories, milestones and emotional attachment 
•  The hidden creative economy of Wood Green 
•  The birthplace of television 
•  Heritage skills and future stewardship 
•  Sustainability and caring for future generations 
•  Know Your Neighbourhood rapid-fire round

About Our Guest 

Louise Johnson is Head of Strategic Planning and Projects at Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust. 

Links and Mentions 

Alexandra Park and Palace Trust: https://www.alexandrapalace.com  

North London Skate Club:  https://www.northlondonskateclub.com  

London Festival of Architecture 2026:  https://www.londonfestivalofarchitecture.org  

Under Many Flags mural by Matt Dosso 

Ludos:  https://ludoslondon.co.uk/ 

Oita: https://www.oitarestaurant.com/woodgreen 

Blue House Yard: https://www.bluehouseyard.com/ 

Wolves Lane: https://www.wolveslane.org/